On 26 June 2019, four Community Advisors from Community Operations' Wellington office visited Rimutaka Prison to see the projects that Julia Milne and Common Unity are doing with the inmates there. These projects include sewing...

Whirinaki's story
The people of Whirinaki, Hokianga, used the Community-led Development approach to help in developing projects that will sustain the health and vitality of their people, the land, their waterways, ngahere, flora and fauna, and...

The Valley Project
Using a community-led development approach, the communities of Dunedin's North East Valley have come together, connecting with each other and their environment. Their initiatives include a community garden where people work together, growing...

Rejuvenating a community hall
In 2014, Darryl, a resident in a Housing NZ retirement village, approached Roskill Together at a community event and shared his idea about rejuvenating a community hall that hadn't been used in...

Para Kore Marae Incorporated, a national entity, has received grants totalling $50,500 from various COGS local distribution committees.

COGS has a national objective to prioritise Māori.

The mission of Para Kore is to educate and advocate...

Improving safety on May Road
In December 2014, local resident Rebecca met with Roskill Together staff to raise concerns about pedestrian safety on May Road, Mt Roskill.

By applying community-led development principles, Roskill Together helped Rebecca to...

The Banaban Cultural Community of Auckland Incorporated received a grant of $1,500 from the Manukau COGS committee in 2021.

The grant will go towards the running of Te bwimanimaua celebrations event on 15 December.

The Te bwinanimaua...

Since starting their journey in August 2011, Mangakino, Whakamaru and the surrounding rural community have worked together using community-led principles to build a much more community-spirited place to live. Mangakino was one of four communities...

Youth in Transition Charitable Trust received a grant of $10,000 from the Rodney/North Shore COGS committee for their youth suicide prevention programme “Journey Back to Awesome”.

The “Journey Back to Awesome” programme is a unique and...

Older Persons Community Centre Trust (also known as Parksyde Community Centre)
Parksyde Community Centre is based in Rotorua were awarded a COGS grant in 2021. They will recieive $2,000 each year for the next 3 years.

The...

Community pool at Mangatangi Primary School
The rural community of Mangatangi, nestled in the Firth of Thames, now has access to a swimming pool. The Mangatangi Primary School's Home and School Committee fundraised for five years...

In 2016 the Community Development Scheme (CDS) was taking on it's last partners for funding. Avondale, a suburb in central west Auckland, was successful in receiving the three year grant.

The funding for this project will...

Community collaboration showing results in Maketu
Maketu is a small coastal town in the Bay of Plenty, a place of beautiful scenery, steeped in history, and with a population of just over 1000. Although small in...

What is Blackball's community-led development approach?

Blackball
Location: West Coast
Population: Around 290

Blackball, is a small, historic, coal mining town that has rich social and political roots, nestled on a plateau in the Grey Valley, 24 kilometres north...

Volunteer Nelson Young Leaders acknowledged in community awards
Volunteer Nelson's Young Leaders Programme won the Regional Award in the Education & Child/Youth Development Category at the 2017 Trustpower Community Awards.

The idea for strengthening the volunteering component...

What is Waimate's community-led development approach?

Waimate
Waimate township is the central hub for the wider Waimate District. It is a rural town which services a large geographic area and sits halfway between two bigger towns Timaru...

Positive pathways for young people in Hawke's Bay
Hayseed Trust is a community organisation based in Napier that provides alternative education and support to 'at risk' youth. They have received COGS and Lottery Community grants in...

The Waitakere COGS Committee took time out at their allocation meeting, held at the Massey Birdwood Settlers Hall (known locally as “the Den”) on 29 July 2020, to acknowledge and celebrate a wonderful achievement of...

Matariki ki Paetūmouki - Featherston Matariki Festival
Fab Feathy supported the community to hold programmes to celebrate Matariki and the whenua in the week leading up to Matariki.

The festival had a wide range of family-friendly events...

Kawhia's new wharekai is fit for a King
The custodians of Waipapa Marae opened their new wharekai in Kawhia in March 2019. King Tuheitia opened the new building that fulfils a long held dream for the...

Sandringham
Location: Auckland
Population: Around 11,500

Sandringham is a widely-loved part of Auckland. Drawing people in from all over to experience the culture and food of South Asia, it is also home to a vibrant and diverse range...

South Invercargill
Location: Invercargill
Population: Around 18,000

South Invercargill is a community of some 18,000 people. It is home to the greater proportion of Invercargill's Maori and Pasifika residents and three out of the four Invercargill marae are...

The Extraordinary Power of Collaboration
Tokoroa is a town of approximately 13,600 people. It is a multicultural town, with about 35% of the population being Māori and another 20% from the Pacific Islands (mainly the Cook...

A collaborative response to COVID 19 in the Ūawa Community
The Ūawa Community's initial response to COVID-19 focused on the wellness and well-being of their most vulnerable, specifically their pakeke, tamariki and whanau with considerable...

The Racing Safety Development Fund is a Crown Fund of $990,000 per year that makes grants for projects that help improve the safety of riders, harness racing drivers, spectators, officials and others involved in racing...

Almost 3 years after Department of Internal Affairs financial support ended, the Eastside Community Group is still doing amazing community development work in Masterton East.

During the COVID-19 lockdown the group, in collaboration with Te Awhina...

A Community Services COVID-19 Response group set up in Katikati (following the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown) to respond to the needs of the community during the nationwide lockdown has swung into action and is achieving...

“Te kete whakatihi a Kuramahora” - The overflowing hospitality basket of Kuramahora - Professor Pou Temara

This is about the hidden treasures (knowledge, skills, relationships, networks, resources, systems etc.) being shared for the wellbeing, caring and...

Rēhua Marae is an urban, Maata Waka/pan-Māori marae, located near the centre of Christchurch. It was established in the 1950s by the Methodist Church, as a trade training academy and hostel for boys training to...

During the month of April, while New Zealand was in COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown, the Featherston community saw an unprecedented rise in individuals and whanau seeking support from the Featherston foodbank.

After consulting with all other...

The Randwick Park Community in Manurewa is known for their neighbourhood development, innovation, and proactive approaches - especially when the going gets tough!

With the COVID-19 lockdown levels beginning to impact on their community, on 24...

Act of Kindness
Asset Based community development builds on the assets that are found in the community and mobilises individuals to come together to realise and develop their strengths. This value is currently being reflected by...

We serve humanity, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender.

This is the message that brought over 500 volunteers together to partake in one of South Auckland's largest food distribution initiatives. The Takanini Gurudwara also known as...

Heading into the COVID-19 lockdown, Ka Pai Carterton the Community Led Development Programme (CLDP) worked closely with social services to determine where additional support may be required and they worked with the Community Advisor to...

The Eastside community in Rotorua has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 lockdown. Increased financial pressure is placed on whanau and there are anxieties that go along with that, these can exacerbate mental health problems. So...

Being a working parent can be a real juggle. Getting the kids ready for school, arriving at work on time, making your way through that growing laundry pile after you've rustled up a half-way decent...

Collective Response for the Most Vulnerable During the COVID-19 Lockdown
New Zealanders have always stepped up in times of crisis. With the rapidly evolving situations around the COVID-19 pandemic, we have found ourselves to be more...

Although Parkinson's New Zealand had to change the way it delivered services throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, the organisation found new ways to continue to support people with Parkinson's. Through telephone, email and videoconference, the organisation...

Eastern Bay Villages: Te Kokoru Manaakitanga
Eastern Bay Villages is a community group based in Whakatāne that provides support for seniors / pakeke in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region. The group received a grant from...

In Auckland, a Community Advisor received this story from Lesley at Harbour Hospice in Takapuna, Auckland, about how they are delivering their services to a vulnerable community during the COVID-19 lockdown:
Harbour Hospice multidisciplinary teams are...

Keeping Connected : South Dunedin Community Network
The South Dunedin Community Network continues to meet to progress a number of projects during the COVID-19 lockdown. This week's Zoom meeting saw the group focusing on:

A submission to...

Age Concern in Auckland have long provided valuable services to elderly people in New Zealand, however, COVID-19 has put extra strain and stress on their vulnerable community. Age Concern has risen to meet the challenges...

4 Islanders, an afakasi Maori and an Australian walk into a garage… and MISSION4MEN Men's Ministry is born.

MISSION4MEN is a charitable trust in the central region of New Zealand. Established in 2019, the faith-based Trust...

This is a challenging time for New Zealand as well as the world because of COVID-19 however we have seen resourceful ways of continuing to provide support and service to our most vulnerable New Zealanders...

It is important to note that building trusting relationships is the foundation to community-led development (CLD). It is a collaborative approach that taps into existing local wisdom to unleash community capacity and build ownership of...

Hāpai Hapori supports Nelson
Two days prior to the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown a Community Operations Community Advisor in Nelson was approached by the Civil Defence Emergency Management (Civil Defence) team to lead the homelessness work-stream...

One of our Regional Advisors, George, received this email from Russell at the organisation, Big Buddy. It shows how one group is continuing to help boys in the community during the COVID-19 lockdown and how...

Te Karanga Charitable Trust runs successful youth programmes in Auckland and in 2019 they were granted $40,000 from the Lottery Auckland Community Committee to continue their valuable 'Creative Pathways' programme in Mt Roskill. The programme...

Importance of Ethnic Counselling
The pandemic is remodelling our society like it is clay spinning on the axis of a pottery wheel. For some, speaking with a counsellor is the most familiar method for interpreting their...

Both Girl Guides and Scouts New Zealand have adapted their programme to the COVID-19 lockdown by offering their programmes to New Zealand kids for free.

Scouts New Zealand has a strong commitment towards the accessibility...